alright
December 2008 
something else to share.... something shimmering and a lullaby
Posted on Aug 16th, 2008
by 
synonym for light
synonym for light
Jordan and I went to see Shawn Mullins play his music last Wednesday night in Aspen. It was a brilliant show. Shawn is a wonderful story teller and a warm and genuine presence. I can't remember when I've enjoyed a show as much, though Rufus Wainwright came close. Shawn is one of those singers who is even better live than he is on his recordings. I am so glad Jordan got to go with me to this show. I think he enjoyed it as much as I did. He grew up on this music and he loved Shawn's stories of where the songs came from as much as I did.
I remember the first time I heard this song..... lullaby
I was driving home from work after a graveyard shift. Jordan was young. I felt lonely and raw and inadequate in so many ways, not least of which was in parenting ability. I heard the words "everything is gonna be alright, rockabye" on the radio and such a gorgeous voice singing them. It was like a musical hug, a melodic reassurance. A dam of long held in check emotion broke inside of me. I started crying uncontrollably. I had to pull the car over. I went out and bought Shawn's CD Soul's Core soon afterward and I have been enjoying this music that touches a cord in me for all the years since. Lots of his songs make me cry, when I need to.
At my job at 9-1-1 we are never, ever allowed to say to a caller that "everything is going to be alright." Never. Ever. We are allowed to say that help is on the way. But not that it's going to be alright. We are not allowed to make promises that we can't keep.
I'm so glad that there are musicians in the world and not just emergency operators and medics and doctors. I'm so glad that someone can say to us, really, everything is going to be alright and that we are born to shimmer and shine and radiate, to live, to love, to never hate.
Sometimes we really need to hear it.
Thanks Shawn.
Peridot-- he's coming to Portland soon according to the tour schedule on his myspace page. I can't recommend going to see him perform enough.
I remember the first time I heard this song..... lullaby
Shawn Mullins Lullaby
I was driving home from work after a graveyard shift. Jordan was young. I felt lonely and raw and inadequate in so many ways, not least of which was in parenting ability. I heard the words "everything is gonna be alright, rockabye" on the radio and such a gorgeous voice singing them. It was like a musical hug, a melodic reassurance. A dam of long held in check emotion broke inside of me. I started crying uncontrollably. I had to pull the car over. I went out and bought Shawn's CD Soul's Core soon afterward and I have been enjoying this music that touches a cord in me for all the years since. Lots of his songs make me cry, when I need to.
At my job at 9-1-1 we are never, ever allowed to say to a caller that "everything is going to be alright." Never. Ever. We are allowed to say that help is on the way. But not that it's going to be alright. We are not allowed to make promises that we can't keep.
I'm so glad that there are musicians in the world and not just emergency operators and medics and doctors. I'm so glad that someone can say to us, really, everything is going to be alright and that we are born to shimmer and shine and radiate, to live, to love, to never hate.
Sometimes we really need to hear it.
Thanks Shawn.
Peridot-- he's coming to Portland soon according to the tour schedule on his myspace page. I can't recommend going to see him perform enough.
Access: Public
it’s wonderful that you got to see him and experience that warmth and
power in person. like you, i had a very personal feeling of connecting
with Lullaby when I listened to it, while it was popular on the radio.
sometimes though as professionals we can’t say these words, we badly,
badly need to hear them… the words can release floodgates as they did
in you, in me, I’m sure in many others… “even her smile looks like a
frown… can’t let go, can’t relax…”
i really appreciated hearing the comfort in this song today. i am
reveling in it, wrapping it around me as much as I wrap warmth around
me to take away the chill that has settled into my bones.
thank you so much!
Everything is going to be alright is a promise I'm not sure we can break either.
I guess it's just a matter of perspective.
shanti – this is true. but tell the lawyers that…. :-)
nicole - I'm so glad you enjoyed the music again this morning. I've been wrapping myself up in his newest cd for the past few days. honeydew is the title. it's wonderful too. :-)
oh, that's great! and shanti, you're right too… too bad about those lawyers eh?
“And all shall be well and
All manner of thing shall be well
When the tongues of flame are in-folded
Into the crowned knot of fire
And the fire and the rose are one.”
Little Gidding, T.S. Eliot
i remember this song from some time ago but don't really know him otherwise. I will have to get his cd. I loved your story. I love that quote up there too.